Agenda item

To review the Council’s Fees and Charges for 2021/22, in line with the Budget Strategy considered by Cabinet on 14 December 2020.

Members considered the Fees and Charges 2021/22 report presented by Councillor Boden.

Members made comments, asked questions, and received responses as follows:

1.    Councillor Booth referred to fees and charges for the traveller pitches and asked how many of those pitches are occupied and maintained at this time. Councillor Clark said there are 69 plots, and all are occupied. Councillor Booth asked if his included the Turf Fen site; Councillor Clark said she would have to get back to him on this. Councillor Booth said going past the site it seems there are empty pitches, and he thanked Councillor Clark for agreeing to investigate this.

2.    Councillor Booth addressed Councillor Boden saying he would recall a commercial working party started two years ago reviewing the markets and the port. He said the outcome of the review for the port was that although the income covers the running costs, the issue was the capital investment required and he believed the recommendation was for the new administration to look at how this could be made sustainable. There was also concern about the sustainability of the markets given the low number of pitches. He asked what steps have been taken in relation to that because they have been highlighted as areas where we are losing income or might have to spend money to keep these services provided.

3.    Councillor Murphy responded that we actually now have more market stalls at Whittlesey, Chatteris and March than we have had for some time. We are now trying to encourage a wider variety of stalls, but the situation is vastly better than two years ago.

4.    Councillor Boden said the port has been a long-standing issue but the biggest change we can make is at looking at more commercial opportunities within the port through Fenland Future Limited. However, there are some confidential contractual issues which need to be resolved before we can move forwards in our management of the port. There are some interesting new opportunities being pursued currently in respect of businesses at the port, but there are also practical difficulties in terms of the number of ships that can get to the port due to tides. However, it is not the case that we have to have a position where the port makes a profit for the Council. The fact it operates produces business which helps economic growth take place within Fenland.

5.    Councillor Booth asked why we are not proposing to increase the fees for fairs to increase our income. Councillor Murphy responded that these fees were raised in 2020, unfortunately though the fairs have been unable to attend the area due to COVID. It is not likely they will return this year either and the amount of income is so small from it anyway.

6.    Councillor Mason asked why Wisbech Port collects berth fees on behalf of Sutton Bridge. Councillor Boden said that FDC collects money for leisure mooring fees at Sutton Bridge on behalf of Lincolnshire County Council as a convenience arrangement for both parties, but the fees similar to the wharfage fees at Wisbech Port which relate to the ships that berth at the commercial port at Sutton Bridge are the responsibility of the Port of Sutton Bridge Ltd and we have no involvement with those. Therefore, all we deal with are the mooring leisure fees.

7.    Councillor Yeulett thanked Councillor Murphy for keeping the markets open at this time as they have been a boon for many residents, and much appreciated by all. Councillor Murphy said it was disappointing that he could not allow certain stalls to trade due to government rules, but it was his intention to keep as many stalls trading as was legally allowed at this time.

The Overview and Scrutiny Panel considered the proposals contained in the report and at Appendix A and recommended to Cabinet the Fees and Charges to be included in the final budget proposals for 2021/22.

(Councillor Cornwell declared an interest by virtue of the fact he is a berth holder at Wisbech Yacht Harbour and left the meeting at the commencement of discussion on this item).